Election (R, 1999)

After years of joyfully teaching high school, Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) -- every kid's favorite guy -- finds his professional and personal lives spinning out of control. After the school over-achiever Tracey Flick (Reese Witherspoon) raises her hand one too many times, McAllister sets out to foil her plan to win the position of student council president. Challenged (at the behest of McAllister) by a clueless yet lovable jock (Chris Klein) and his antisocial lesbian sister (Jessica Campbell), Flick will stop at nothing to win her student council seat. Both teacher and success-craving student make suspect choices as the plot speeds toward an end that will decide the fates of its dueling leads.

ELECTION is simply one in a line of quirky comedies directed by Alexander Payne (Citizen Ruth [1996], About Schmidt [2004], and Sideways [2004]). Like his other contributions, this dark comedy combines fascinating character types, tragic life events, and dark comedy to produce painfully poignant images of contemporary life. The film does a fine job of presenting high school though the jaded eyes of both teacher and student, while throwing in a selection of stereotypes for good measure.

A turning point in the careers of three of its main performers, Election transformed Broderick's career as he shed Ferris Bueller's sweater vest for the shirt and tie of the "man." Additionally, this film launched Witherspoon into A-list stardom and catapulted the career of Klein, whose portrayal of the lovable jock led to leading roles in such high profile films as American Pie (1999) and 2 (2001) and We Were Soldiers (2002).

Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Alexander Payne
Cast: Chris Klein, Matthew Broderick, Reese Witherspoon
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release: January 1, 1999
DVD release: October 19, 1999
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong sexuality, sex-related dialogue and language, and a scene of drug use